V-BAT
Group 3 VTOL fixed-wing
The V-BAT is a Group 3 vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft system designed for long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and target acquisition.
Mission Profile
The V-BAT is engineered to provide persistent ISR and target acquisition capabilities in environments where traditional runway operations are impractical or impossible. Its VTOL functionality allows for launch and recovery from confined spaces, unprepared terrain, or maritime vessels, significantly enhancing its operational flexibility and expeditionary deployment options. This makes it particularly suitable for forward-deployed units, special operations forces, and naval operations.
Once airborne, the V-BAT transitions to efficient fixed-wing flight, enabling extended loiter times and coverage of large areas. This hybrid capability combines the agility of VTOL with the endurance and speed of a fixed-wing aircraft, supporting missions such as border security, maritime domain awareness, convoy overwatch, and critical infrastructure protection. Its design prioritizes a small operational footprint and rapid deployment, making it a valuable asset for time-sensitive missions and dynamic operational landscapes.
Key Features
- ▸Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) capability
- ▸Transitions to efficient fixed-wing flight for endurance
- ▸Small operational footprint for expeditionary deployment
- ▸Long endurance for persistent ISR missions
- ▸Multi-mission payload capability
- ▸Runway-independent operations
- ▸Designed for both land and maritime environments
Specifications
- ceiling
- Up to 20,000 ft (6,100 m)
- configuration
- Ducted fan VTOL fixed-wing
- endurance
- 11+ hours (with standard payload)
- mtow
- Approximately 125 lbs (56.7 kg)
- payload
- Up to 25 lbs (11.3 kg)
- propulsion
- Single internal combustion engine (piston engine)
- range
- Not publicly disclosed (operational radius often cited as 200+ nm datalink range)
- speed
- Cruise speed approximately 90 knots (167 km/h)
Notable Operators
Comparable Platforms
About the Manufacturer
Shield AI's mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent autonomous systems. The company makes the V-BAT Group 3 VTOL UAS and Hivemind autonomy software that enables manned and unmanned aircraft to fly missions in GPS- and comms-denied environments.